State Sports: Hockey always a family affair for Panes

Published 12:00 am, Wednesday, February 17, 2010

EAST HAVEN -- The thought of some day coaching his own son on the high school level was always a driving force for East Haven boys hockey coach Lou Pane Sr. when he took the job 24 seasons ago.

The desire to see that day come was so strong Pane said he turned down two higher level jobs -- the Quinnipiac College women's coaching position 10 years ago and Fairfield University's men's spot 12 years ago.

Now, with his son Lou Pane Jr.'s high school career coming to a close, there are mixed feelings.

"My goal was always to coach my son at East Haven, and that desire kept me at the high school level," Pane said. "It's been a great experience, but it's been a challenge. My team has always been a part of my family. But because Lou is my son, I didn't want anyone to think I favored him over anyone else.

"In retrospect, the toughest thing about the experience is how tough I've been on him. Sometimes, it really wasn't fair. The bottom line is it really is difficult coaching your son. My philosophy has always been to push players so they could develop and reach their potential. But there were times I pushed Louie far beyond the other guys on the team."

His natural ability, father's coaching and, more importantly, a strong work ethic helped Pane Jr. become a speedy right wing for the Yellowjackets. This season, he leads the team in scoring with 21 points (eight goals, 13 assists). He and second-leading scorer Rich DeCarlo (eight goals, 12 assists) are reasons the Easties have been on a roll with a 6-3-1 record in their last 10 games (9-6-1 overall).

After his father took him to a Hartford Whalers game at age 4, the younger Pane fell in love with hockey and started playing on the youth level, but it hasn't been easy for the 5-foot-8, 170-pound forward.

After his high school debut as a freshman, he played on a midget youth hockey team in the offseason. About a month before the next high school season started, he broke his right arm in a game and missed his entire sophomore season at East Haven.

"Louie was a late bloomer, just an average youth hockey player really," Pane Sr. said. "But when he got hurt, he worked hard in the gym that entire sophomore year in high school. It made him stronger, it made him faster, and he developed into a good player."

Pane said he looked forward to playing for his father since he was a youngster. But he admitted it was a nerve-wracking experience at times.

"Anytime you're the coach's son, there's some kind of pressure," Pane said. "You always want to do well, score and play solid defense. But I always tried not to think about it. For me, it was a long road of development, and that's where my focus was in high school.

"I was never the most talented guy. I always had to work harder than the other guys. After I came back from breaking my right forearm, my game turned around. I saw myself making better decisions and taking less penalties, I had more speed, and I was stronger."

It's been a challenging season for the Easties, who have lost players to injuries and academics. Forward Justin Vanderharten missed the first four games with mononucleosis, forward Matt Barcomb returned two games ago after being academically ineligible, and Pane missed two games with a shoulder injury suffered against Fairfield Prep on Jan. 16.

"We lost 100-plus points to graduation from last season's team," coach Pane said. "But I've been impressed at how well our defense has played, keeping our goals-against average down to about two goals a game. The success we've been having is the result of a team effort. Our first line (Pane-Ben Kuzma-Barcomb) is back together, and Rich DeCarlo has filled in when the frontline guys have been hurt."

The younger Pane also excels at baseball as a second baseman and batted .330 last season. He's been accepted at Eastern Connecticut State, where he has been recruited to play baseball. But he has also been eyed by prep schools for hockey.

One of the highlights of Pane's development was his success in the Hockey Night In Boston national tournament last summer. In nine games, Pane finished with five goals and four assists for the Mid-Atlantic team.

"That experience against teams from around the country really boosted his game," Pane Sr. said. "It showed he had talent and people noticed. Prep schools started showing more interest and Loomis Chaffee (Windsor), Williston School (Northampton, Mass.) and Berkshire School (Massachusetts) want him to PG (be a post graduate) at their school."

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The younger Pane said he loves both sports and is undecided about where he will go.

"I realized the other day that we only have five games left in the regular season," Pane Sr. said. "Seeing him play those last five games will be difficult. And once the (Division I state) playoffs are over, I'll see him move on. It'll be good for him to move on. But it won't be easy for me."